Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Five Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 February 05, 2017            Newsletter Number 606 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor                   Brother Ronnie Henderson Sr., Song Leader Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com                                          Web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com “A Church Seeking To Please God In Prayer, Song, Preaching, And Worship.”

Our Prayer Request:   All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry,  Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette and Her Family, Tyrell Loyd, Bonnie, Ted O'Bonion, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Adcock, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, Lee & Mary Mollette, Wendell Henderson, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Vickie Adkins, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Donna Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Linda Hughes, Donna Jones, Brandy Sullivan, Gina, Tammy Hairston and family, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Manual Seymour, Sr, The Harris Family, The Morris Family, Teresa Bookout, Little Titan Thomas (Trent and Tiffane Thomas child), James – Diane and Brooke Thomas, Jace Fails, Steve Sparks, Sister Ann McSwain, Brother Archie and Barbra Griffin, Brandy’s Mother, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From our Pastor:   Stop Using God’s Name In Vain, Please.Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”   We sometimes as Christians forget what we should not do, sometime the world does it so much we grow accustom to allowing and even doing the wrong things. Using God’s name or names in vain should something (1.) we never accept in any form and (2.) absolutely never do. Now please let us study this word “vain” so that we will not be mistaken as to what is vain and what is not. The word “vain” In the Hebrew which is its usage in Exodus 20:7 the word is “shâv” and it means - in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjectively), uselessness (as deceptive, objectively; also adverbially in vain): - false (-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity. – in the New Testament the Lord uses the word often but not exactly as to using His name in vain. The word vain is used in such ways as “use not vain repetitions”, “in vain do they worship me”, “became vain in their imaginations”, “our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” If we preach not that Christ is the risen Saviour. We also see it used in other examples but not with anything good. Mary speaking of Jesus said in Luke 1:49 “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.” The Psalmist wrote in Psalms 111:9 "...holy and reverend is his name." The word “reverend” has a twofold meaning (1.) it means we are to revere or to feel deep respect or admiration for Him, and (2.) It should cause us to be frightened. As Christians we should know more than anyone else how to respect and use in reverence the names of the Lord. If you ever use the names (any of them) in vain at any time you have just insulted the name of God. If you use His names in a false way, or a weakened way you have brought insult upon the Lord. I hear Christians use the Lords names in vain a lot and personally it is insulting to me, and should be to you. The three worst letters used today is (omg) which is insulting to the name of God and to every Believer in Jesus Christ that knows better. Folks, it just takes a little self-discipline and personally I believe it is about one of the worse things a saved believer by grace and mercy can do. However, it ought to make us fearful of God, He has told us it is unacceptable to Him. Now, one might ask what exactly is God’s name? Well, just look up the names of God, and you will find many, and those are the ones you should not use in vain. It doesn’t matter that others may use the same names, if it is God’s name then it is Holy and should be Revered to the highest level. I believe Ministers that use the name “Reverend” ought not do so because the scriptures use the word once and it says it is God’s name. However, other names of God are used by others. There were other people named Jesus in the scriptures, and lord, and even god, however I believe that all names of God Are Holy and should never be used in vain. As Christians, who have tasted of the good gifts of God, the grace and mercy of His gift of salvation, please let us all drop the insulting usages of His Blessed names.

The clock of Providence!By Charles Spurgeon 1883 "There is a clock with which Providence keeps time and pace — and God Himself sets it!"   Our time is always now, for we are in selfish haste. But everything happens according to God's divine time-table. Our sovereign God is never before His time — and never too late. We may well admire the punctuality of Heaven.   Our trials come in due season — and leave at the appointed moment. Our fretfulness will neither hasten nor delay the purposes of our sovereign God.   We are in hot haste to order all our affairs. But the Lord has the leisure of omnipotence and unerring wisdom — and it will be well for us to learn to wait. The clock will not strike until the hour; but when the instant comes, we shall hear the bell.   My soul, trust in God, and wait patiently when He says, "My time has not yet come — but your time is always here!" John 7:6

Christian News.   President Trump in his address at the National Prayer Breakfast last week said “I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment.” As Christians we ought to pray that he does. Churches and Pastors are denied their First Amendment right to free speech by it. You ask, what is the Johnson Amendment: It’s named for Lyndon B. Johnson, who introduced it in the Senate in 1954, nine years before he became president. It bans all tax-exempt nonprofits — which includes churches and other houses of worship, as well as charities — from “directly or indirectly” participating in any political candidate’s campaign. It is the very devil that scares Pastor, Ministers and Churches from being active in the choosing of our national leaders. President Trump said “the Johnson Amendment is that it impinges on the American “right to worship according to our own beliefs” Liberals love it because it stifles the Churches and Pastors because of the fear of losing their tax exempt status. It is true some churches and pastors do not believe that we ought to be active in world politics, however, I believe we should not be punished from our First Amendment right to free speech. Please pray that this horrible law is done away with.

Church Notices:   The church will have a business meeting at 4:00 today.   The Grace Bible Baptist Church in Denham Springs, LA has canceled their June Bible Conference. They said their building and fellowship hall will not be finished. Please keep praying for them.

A Quote For Thought:   “You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon